Friday, November 28, 2014

If you're not too exhausted from your Thanksgiving festivities, or getting up early to stand in line and get your holiday consumerism on, you should consider taking a look through our extensive event listings and Staff Picks and find something to do that doesn't involve standing in line and throwing elbows over a new video game or TV.

FILM | We're at the end of Spokane's November celebration of Native Heritage Month, but there are still some ways to get involved, including two screenings of Drunktown's Finest at The Bing on Friday. The directorial debut of Sydney Freeland, a Native American from New Mexico, the 2014 Sundance Film Festival selection incorporates the stories of three young people struggling with growing up on a reservation. Here's a look at the trailer:

VISUAL ARTS | The students of the Spokane Art School have a bunch of brand-new, hand-made holiday ornaments for you to check out, or buy, starting today.

Thursday, November 27, 2014

Crews haul away an 88-foot Engelmann Spruce from the Colville National Forest, near Usk, Wash., to serve as this year's U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree in November 2013.

OUTLANDER serves as a weekly round up of Inland Northwest outdoor recreation and natural resources news. This feature will highlight a wide variety of issues and events, ranging from camping stories to national environmental disputes. We’ll also try to include some scenic photos. Feel free to pass along suggestions or curiosities that celebrate the Great Outdoors.

Wednesday, November 26, 2014

While most city officials seem open to a proposal filed today to change how the mayor’s salary gets set, Spokane city council members may conflict over the timing of a ballot measure that would put the matter before voters next year.

Councilman Mike Fagan filed a ballot proposal today that would alter the city’s charter to have the Salary Review Commission, the same entity that sets the city council’s salaries, evaluate and set salary for the mayor. The issue arose earlier this fall after a preliminary budget included a $7,000 raise for the mayor.

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Councilman Mike Fagan

“It’s very, very simple,” he says. “All we’re proposing is using the same mechanism [as applies to the council.] That is as simple as you can get.”

City council members had voiced strong opposition to the mayor’s proposed raise, sparking a strong public debate over whether the existing charter rules still served as the best method for determining salary.

Meanwhile, Fagan scheduled three public forums on the issue, noting a total combined attendance of just 10 people. In hopes of putting the issue before voters on the February ballot, he hurried to file a proposal this week for the council.

“I made the decision to step forward and address the issue myself,” he says.

The ballot proposal would shift responsibility for the mayor’s salary to the Salary Review Commission. Fagan noted that commission might have to be restructured to ensure an impartial decision, but he felt it would be the best alternative. The mayor proposed a similar change recently as part of an Affordability Plan.

“It’s something that the mayor supports,” city spokesman Brian Coddington says, “and it’s probably the next step in the conversation.”

Council President Ben Stuckart says there has not been much prior conversation, arguing Fagan filed the proposal without bringing it through the regular committee process. Stuckart says he doesn’t oppose the idea, but opposes the way it has been rushed through the process.

“The timing needs to be discussed," he says.

Stuckart explains Spokane Public Schools and Spokane Transit Authority officials have contacted him about the potential impact on their upcoming ballot measures. The council president says the salary issue unnecessarily “muddies the water.”

When the proposal comes before the council, Stuckart says, he plans to argue for delaying the issue until the ballot in August. Fagan says he doesn’t understand why Stuckart would let schools or the STA dictate how the city operates.

“Changing the charter is really, really an important thing,” Fagan says. “If this was as hot-buttoned as everybody says it was, why are we pushing this back to August?”

The council will likely discuss the issue in greater detail next week.

The Sports Creel is celebrating a birthday that most specialty sporting good stores never see.

Harry Larned first opened the doors to this Spokane Valley staple on March 19, 1954. Throughout the years, the store has remained family-owned and operated – three generations of Larneds have worked there, in fact. Harry’s daughter, Lin, would eventually take over the operation and marry Herb Genteman. One of their two sons, Micah, would follow the family legacy, growing up and making the store a big part of his life. He would eventually meet his wife, TJ, in the store. Currently Herb, Lin, Micah and TJ are the core members of the Creel team.

The location has hardly changed and as Micah describes, “The original location was pretty close to our current location. We’ve always remained within a stones throw (near the intersection of Sprague and Pines).”

Over the past 60 years, the Sports Creel has adapted to the incoming big box stores, other specialty retailers opening and closing and the growth of the Valley. Through the 60 years, they have carried everything from high-end fly-fishing equipment, Chris Craft wooden boat kits and was at one point the largest Hobie cat dealer in North America. “We have sold everything,” Micah says.

But from day one, they have always sold snow skis. “We are now focused on selling stuff for the things we do (and love to do),” Micah adds. The Sports Creel has made its footprint in the Inland Northwest as one of the best special ski and water sports shops.

Throughout the years, the Sports Creel has remained competitive with stores that have the budgets and staff to be open day and night, seven days a week. Herb adds that the last 60 years have been “a survival of the specialty ski shops. Lots have come and gone.” But the Sports Creel has remained a fixture. Happy Birthday, thanks for helping spread ‘the stoke’ for the last 60 years, and cheers to 60 more!

BEHIND THE COVER: This week's holiday-inspired cover comes from local artist Tiffany Patterson. We asked her what she loves about Christmas time:

"The holidays held so much magic for me as a child. It seemed fitting to imagine all the wonderful events this season being witnessed through the eyes of a little girl. I grew up in a Weimaraner family, but through truly lovely friends have come to know the charm of Pugs. Christmas sweaters and snorting tiny dogs seemed to go wonderfully with drooling over candied covered houses and enthusiastically hurling yourself down fluffy snow covered mountains."

It's Thanksgiving Eve, and that means it's a mid-week chance to rage, full-on. Or at least get out of the house. We have a ton of event listings always at your disposal, as well as Staff Picks chosen by our in-house professionals. No time to poke around? We can help.

More than 200 people attended Solidarity Action for Ferguson march and rally last night in response to Ferguson Police Officer Darren Wilson not being indicted for the shooting and killing of unarmed teenager Michael Brown. After a "die-in" in front of Spokane City Hall, symbolizing Brown's body being left in the street for hours after his death, marchers walked from City Hall to the STA Plaza and back chanting "no justice, no peace" and "hands up, don't shoot," among others.

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Local NAACP chapter President and Inlander commentary contributor Rachel Dolezal, left, draws a chalk outline around her 20-year-old son Isaiah Dolezal as part of a "die-in" in front of City Hall.

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Jackie Vaughn, bottom, walks down W. Spokane Falls Blvd.

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Twenty-year-old Isaiah Dolezal, right, carries a Pan-African flag as his 13-year-old brother Franklin Moore walks along his side down W. Spokane Falls Blvd.

WEDNESDAY
If Thanksgiving is all about family, the night before Thanksgiving is about hanging out with all of those friends who are back in town for the long weekend. The Knitting Factory has that figured out with its upcoming annual Butterball Bash. The headbanging lineup includes Seattle sludge metal group Witchburn and Spokane rock acts Seven Cycles, Deadones USA, Elephant Gun Riot and Free the Jester, who just released their debut EP last month. It’s time to rock hard before hitting that big turkey feast and Black Friday. The free ($5 for minors) all-ages show begins at 7:30 pm.

Every time singer-songwriter Star Anna goes on tour she eats at Denny's. There's comfort in familiar cuisine and she appreciates any menu that includes a respectable pun (Moons Over My Hammy is a favorite). This Thanksgiving she'll eat at the 24-hour diner again thanks to a two-date stop in Spokane next Wednesday and Thursday. The shows begin at 8 pm and is $5. Read the full story here.

What better way to eat an amazing burrito at Neato Burrito, then to do so while listening to electronic music? The Baby Bar plays host to the Thanksgiving Eve DJ Party featuring DJ Case, Stone Tobey, Kain Bridge One and Da III. The beat-filled show starts at 9 pm and is free.

THANKSGIVING
Last year, at an impromptu Mootsy's Thanksgiving show, the other guys all realized Aker needed a rock band behind his wailing, soulful vocals. Months later, Pine League was formed. The local rock band plays Mootsy’s again Thursday. Just roll down there whenever your family festivities have hit a lull.

FRIDAY
Friday evening, after you’ve eaten a sufficient amount of leftover turkey-filled sandwiches, hit up the Big Dipper for an evening of local metal acts. (I’ve heard hardcore music actually helps with digestion). The bands include Over Sea Under Stone, Lions Beside Us and Banish the Echo. The all-ages show is $8 at the door and starts at 8 pm.

SATURDAY
The Knitting Factory brings in that breezy California singer-songwriter sound Saturday with Eric Hutchinson, Tristan Prettyman and Nick Howard. The show starts at 8 pm and is $20 at the door.

Local kick-ass metal acts Cold Blooded, Progenitus and I Hate This City play the Rock Your Socks Off Benefit organized by the Modified Dolls, a nonprofit founded by “modified” — i.e., pierced and tattooed — women and dedicated to charity Saturday. Bring socks for the House of Charity and nonperishable food items for Second Harvest. The show starts at 10 pm at Underground 15.